Chapter Three: Muscle and Mass
This wasn't right. None of it was. It was surreal and made Killer's teeth set on edge. Lying on the upper bunk, arms folded beneath his head he kept wishing he had his shirt. It wasn't exactly cold in there but the exposure made him uneasy. Along with the fact not a single thing had been asked from any of them...yet.
Staring at the wooden beams only a few feet above him, Killer narrowed his eyebrows under his mask. There were 66 of them; as far as he knew and at least in this area of the ship, yet none of them had been asked to do work or entertain or even suck some crewmen off. Nothing.
Killer should be grateful the still quieteness gave him a chance to think about escape and he wasn't being tormented or ordered about by some pearly fanged shipmates. But he was getting bored, he admitted it, it was boredom creeping into his mind as the late morning drifted in and the sun rose further into the sky.
There had hardly been any bustle from above or in the corridors either, seemed like a pretty tame environment for an abduction ship. Killer hissed and turned on his side, closing his eyes tightly for a moment, only opening them when an unnerved, shaking breath escaped the man opposite.
Killer gestured his head upwards at the hat clad man sat on the edge of his narrow bed, legs swinging down to the bunk below. Thumbs fidgeting akwardly.
"Look...err...wh-what's your name again?"
"...Killer"
"Ah yes...of course" Penguin mumbled hysterically under his breath before composing himself once more.
"I know you don't exactly...know me? I guess, no you don't really and yet we are still familiar with one another's crew and Captain and you are no doubt being looked for this moment...I hope I am too but in the case one of our ship's come first...would...would" he was losing now. His speech was already blurred and useless. Now he felt hot and embaressed and didn't want to continue.
"Make a deal about escaping with the ship that turns up first?" Killer finished for him, voice painfully flat. Penguin exhaled sharply and nodded briefly.
Silence ensued between then and Killer shrugged his burly shoulders.
"Seems fair" he replied and could see the tiny curl of Penguin's smile of relief before he maintained a serious expression.
"Th-thank you" he claimed and lay down, turning away from the blonde. Shivering.
Killer watched his lean body move with each breath before looking up at the ceiling again. Bunk creaking at his weight and a nervous yelp from below would have amused him if not for the fact the kid pirate was instantly aware of footsteps coming towards their room.
The door clicked open and several members threw themselves against the nearest wall as though it could save them as three menacing enemies entered with apathetic glances.
"Alright, we're going to divide you into work groups...come now, ya didn't think we would let you off with a free cruise" a pearly white smile was exposed by a younger, considerably handsome dark skinned man with shocking deep green hair. The other two were just a pair of lugs and soon all of the thirteen members had formally lined themselves up, including a reluctant Killer after receiving a death stare from one of the guards.
The dark skinned man went down the line, checking each captive. Turning their head this way and that and looking them up and down like meat. He then said something to them and they weakly nodded.
The green haired man came up to Penguin who tried to avoid eye-contact for a few moments before giving up and facing him.
"Wonder what's under the hat" the man sneered and went to grab it when Penguin caught his wrist. A gasp on his own mouth as the man glared ferociously at the disobedience.
"P-please...not infront of the others" he claimed desperately and the man wrenched his pale grip from him and snarled.
"I know where you are going, little flightless bird" the man spat at the heart pirate's feet and moved on. Penguin shivered and tugged the yellow brim of his hat down with a bitten lip to show just beneath the artificial shadow of the clothing piece.
After watching the small show, Killer wondered if they would try-
"What's under the mask, chunky?"
"Fuck me, he looks like he could run the whole damn ship, Root" a guard said from behind the younger man; who went by the name 'Root'.
"Well he ain't going to, so we need to assign him to something else" he pondered over the muscular form of the blonde.
"How did Captain even get him? I mean I know she is good but this guy looks like...a fucking killer"
Killer's eyebrow quirked at that one.
"I mean, if you look at the rest of these small fry fish, they'll get us a decent amount but this guy, we could go pretty expensive" Root leered and Killer wanted to deck him so bad his hand twitched.
"But for now?" one of the more...rational looking guards urged.
"...Alright Brace, I'm on it..well...general labour I guess, he can get things done quickly so that'll be fine for now"
They carried on and Killer took in a deep, weary breath of frustration that Brace noticed with a snarling lip of distaste.
Killer didn't leave with Penguin and didn't care for the most part, he was still pissed he was being looked over like a brand new toy.
"I'm thinking Drill, we should take old muscles and mass here to the Captain to get him price-tagged right now, I'm actually excited with the kind of offer we could get with this guy"
The less intelligent of the guards looked down at Root for a few moments before shrugging.
"Might as well, don't think Captain's too busy right now"
Brace uttered that he would go on ahead with the others with Drill as Root took Killer and his creepy self towards what could only be the Captain's Cabin.
A few raps on the door and a voice from inside called them to enter. The cabin was rather large with silky silver sheets on a bed further down, a few desks and cupboards and large windows looking out to the ocean. Nothing new.
Captain Arabella Mint sat in what looked like a dentist's operating chair and was looking through some files.
"Find Denture for me will ya, I can't fucking find the contracts" she growled at a nearby guard, the only one in the room who nodded and darted off past Root and his captive. She threw all the paper down before addressing her guests.
"Hey Root, why you bring the blonde meat up here?" she drawled, leaning back almost childishly in her chair, elbows resting on the arms.
"Well...sorry for disturbing ya Captain, but I wondering what price tag we'd put on this fella-"
"Root, you know I don't tag em before we get there...you never know if some die on the way or get stronger from labour or more experienced in-look you fuckin know the method so why you askin?" she hurried along the conversation.
"I'm not saying we price-tag em all now, I'm just saying we check this one over for an...estimate" Root chuckled and yanked at the cuffs he had slipped onto Killer before they left the bunk room.
Captain Arabella Mint just stared before sighing loudly and shoving herself off the chair, walking over.
Her white and deep green skirt was short, high-thigh and just beneath were long white stockings and short brown boots with grey fur lining. A short green top with long, white string bound sleeves and dark green gloves were on her upper half and finally a large white hat with a striking set of green feathers protruding from it made her attire.
"Well he looks strong, seems to be strong judgin' on the difficulty of his capture" the captain snarled and grabbed his chin, yanking his head up.
"He a devilfruit user?" she asked and just as Root went to answer, Killer did so.
"No, I'm not"
The captain raised an eyebrow and continued as though she hadn't heard him but didn't push the topic further.
"Don't know the story about the mask but in case he's a fuckin freak underneath, we're keeping it on for good produce" Killer would never admit his relief but it surged through him like water.
"I dunno, I'll base it off his work progress, you assigned him to general labour didn't ya?" Captain Arabella Mint asked her shipmate who nodded.
"Yeah, but for now...come on Captain, what would ya say?"
"...570, 000? We can't raise it higher than 700k for just a human..."
Root's eyes widened and if he wasn't in the presence of his captain, Killer had no doubt his tongue would loll out.
"But it could get higher?"
"Probably, just under 700,000 like I said, to keep it safe"
"That's still good fuckin money"
"Yeah, yeah, well put him to work already, I ain't got all afternoon to gawp at him...where the hell is Denture" she sat back down and went rifling through the draws once more.
Killer had a heavy iron chain around his right leg and he was secretly thankful it wasn't his left for fear of re-opening the already untended wound. It meant jumping off was a bad idea in case he sunk and attacking would be even harder with his disabled speed. Either way, Killer continued looking for breaches in the ship and crew's formation.
Hoisting up some ropes, cutting up some wood, fixing some metal cogs...nothing much and pretty basic but he got through it quick and the other shipmates watched him with bewilderment and envy.
Killer's thoughts; for the sake of having nothing better to focus on, drifted to Penguin. Why was he so adamant about the hat? Where was he now? Root didn't sound too pleased with his disobedience and the heart pirate would no doubt pay but...god for the sake of him being another man, Killer hoped it wasn't more intimate labour.
Finishing off some general heavy-lifting. Brace called all the prisoners back to the under-deck staircase. Killer had also noticed the captives around him feebly completing work, mostly men.
On the way under the deck, the blonde heard excited chatter and drools over tonight's entertainment. Most likely some of the women. Poor birds. Dragged down the corridor he went, back into the bunk room. Killer was officially pissed.
Law left the hotel building and placed a steady hand on his hat, pressing it down onto his head with a sigh. Kid followed him out and the door slammed behind him.
"So we know it was some chick...according to what you said about the nail paint and hair strands we found, the fucking nerve though" Kid spat, looking out to the darkening horizon.
"I am pretty irritated at her audacity but it's a good lead, strong female pirate captains are pretty rare so she shouldn't be too tricky to find...without being offensive" Law closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Kid made a sound of agreement by his side and this time the heart pirate turned to the lumbering kid pirate with more interest.
"How come you are on this island anyway?"
"Small talk, Trafalgar? It's just a stop-off, fancied a drink and a rest"
"Same...just a stop-off"
The silence that occurred after was strange and awkward and both captain's shuffled away from one another.
"Captain! Captain!" the large white bear came running to Law whose eyebrows quirked with immediate interest.
"What is it Bepo?"
He allowed the shipmate to catch his breath, hands on his knees weakly. Kid came round Law with a curious look on his face.
"A girl from further down the harbour, a fisher, said she saw a distinct dark green, black, brown and white ship leave the dock last night. She thought it was unnusual for a ship to be leaving so late-"
"Get to the point, bear" Kid spat and Law whirled round the glare.
"Shut your mouth,Kid, this is important information" he then returned a softer gaze to Bepo who blushed at his captain's protectiveness whilst the redhead scowled.
"Did she say anything else?"
Shachi came running up then, closely followed by Wire and Heat who went to their captain's side.
"Some old guy down a local tailor or something said he saw a woman with a white hat run down to a ship last night after leaving the pub" Heat told the kid pirate whose face went stern and he nodded.
"Any of you find anything to do with the 'spit' message?" the devil-fruit eater raised the inquiry to the heart pirates as well.
Shachi inhaled deeply, a little nervous to respond to the infamous pirate but managed to get out a shaky reply.
"Captain Mint, Arabella Mint" the auburn haired man raised a crumpled, pale poster with a distinct female on the front snarling at the camera, she looked like she was...flossing.
"Captain of the 'Teeth Pirates' they got ties with the world nobles and businessmen in terms of slavery" he explained. More confident now everyone spent their undivided attention on him.
"So...she's going to sell Penguin?" Bepo spoke up with a squeak and Law's expression turned dark.
"Not if I can help it"
Kid walked forward and snatched the WANTED Poster from Shachi whose teeth chattered and he leapt behind Law who looked over at the rude redhead with distaste.
"67, 000, 000...she clearly has a couple of enemies but the world nobles are keeping her price low probably to keep her and her produce safe" Kid snarled, scrunching up the paper and stuffing it deep into his pocket.
"Hey, that's...ours" Shachi faltered as Kid turned with Heat and Wire back to their ship.
"Oi, Kid...thought we were joining forces?" Law called, humour evident between the irritation in his voice. Kid couldn't blame him, the thought of someone degrading one of his shipmates...especially Killer set a cold fire in his nerves.
"Well now I got the details Law, I don't need you anymore" Kid shot back, not bothering to stop and turn.
"I assume you know where she is headed then"
The redhead stopped.
"You tellin me you know?"
"I can find out" he smirked, eyelids lowered and Kid stared at the way he seemed so proud and sultry with his scruffy features before narrowing his eyebrowless brow.
"Yeah, okay...if you wanted me that bad Trafalgar, you only had to say...no need to bribe and blackmail" a grim smile spread over Kid's face and he ran a pale hand through his fiery locks.
"I don't want you Eustass-ya, but I am in need of allies if we are to collect our shipmates" Law simply replied, stroking a hand along the hilt of his fur rimmed blade before stuffing his hands in his pocket.
Like a fucking cat, so slinky and sly. Kid nearly told him how animalistic he was. Sighing loudly and using his devil-fruit ability to catapult the nearest drain-pipe into a nearby boat, the redhead stormed up to the cocky heart captain and caught him round the collar.
"Look here, stop with the mind games Law, I just wanna find Killer so either help or fuck off" he hissed into the darker skinned man's face. Law seemed surprised at the outburst but his face went stony and he pushed the redhead away.
"Then prepare for teamwork, Eustass-ya, we are leaving in three hours...on my ship" he told the shocked kid captain who attempted to call out in protest but Law had turned and walked back to his Death submarine with Bepo and Shachi.
It was twilight by the time Penguin was thrown into the bunk room. A few captives stirred whilst others made a noise as though to ask of his wellbeing but their mouths closed from their typical weak fear. Killer on the other hand; who had been wide awake, turned his cerulean and white striped mask to the heart pirate who stumbled to his feet and wiped his mouth shakily. He stood up straight and limped his way round to his bunk where he struggled to get up. Killer only watched as the man from below gave him a hearty boost and Penguin thanked him with a rasped voice before settling down with a faint keen on the thin covers.
The massacre soldier scanned his body for injury and saw a deep red patch thickening through the overall patches by his knees. His elbows looked sore as he could see. Penguin had yanked the pale sleeves up his arm and fresh calloused hands were blushed heavy pink with aching scratches.
"What happened?" Killer hardly prepared for his quiet inquiry and Penguin flinched at his voice.
"A piece of rope dangling me outside the ship cleaning up and repairing some of the wood, along with the odd beating from any nearby ship members" a bitter, humourless laugh came from his lower facial features.
Killer said no more and actually turned over, curiosity satisfied.
Penguin growled. He would have to sleep in his hat for the lack of privacy in the bunk room and as he too turned, he whined lowly at the aches in his spine and legs. Felt the damp throb of his injured knees and tried to not brush his elbows against much. God he wanted out, right now.
Where was his crew and captain?
Dragging the barely useful covers over him as the boat rocked a little harshly, giving him the immediate feel of falling for a moment before he steadied himself and curled up. He was too weak to shiver tonight.
A/N: Yeah, so next time stuff is actually going to happen, I just needed to get this out the way. So! Roles have been assigned on the captive ship and poor Penguin is being treated pretty bad. Killer why aren't you being more like the mother you are to Kid? Oh well, Kid and Law seem to be pissing each other off but what else do they do?
-LAW09
xxXxx: Aww, I am glad you think so! Thank you :)
ariesdanger24: Haha, I'm amazed I have managed to stick to the update times and it's so sweet you are looking forward to it, oh my gosh, by all means keep trying! We must build this pairing AS ONE! ahah, thanks so much for the review!
Collette Nicole: Hehe, he is so sweet bless him and I will definitely start increasing the Law/Kid content so just you wait, thanks for the review!
"NOO" Guest: Ahaha, I'm amazed I even managed to finish it, my commitment skills are very poor. I'm glad you interested and excited though, I hope you enjoy the rest and thank you for the review!
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